Department for Transport

Great Western Railway Line

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have conducted of the impact of having diesel and electric engines fitted to the new Hitachi Great Western Mainline trains on journey times (1) between Paddington and Cardiff, and (2) between Cardiff and Swansea.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Department for Transport is analysing the impact of Great Western electrification delays on the configuration of the Intercity Express Programme fleet. The analysis is looking at the timetable implications including journey times and capacity. The analysis will be informed by the recommendations made by Sir Peter Hendy. No final decisions have been made.

Driving under Influence

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 19 March (HL5704), whether they plan to review the Coalition Government’s policy and to seek funding from the drinks industry to fund the Department for Transport’s drink driving campaigns.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Sources of funding for campaign spend are kept under review but we currently have no plans to introduce a levy on the drinks industry to fund the drink drive campaign.Instead our aim is to develop partnerships with brands who can provide incentives to help drivers avoid alcohol if they are driving, or to help those people who are drinking get home safely without driving. To date we have secured the following partnerships so far for our 2015 campaign:- Coca Cola, who will be running their designated driver campaign, rewarding designated drivers with a buy-one-get-one-free offer on coke drinks in thousands of venues during the festive season.- Budweiser who also promote and celebrate the important role of designated driver.- Johnnie Walker, who ask drivers to take a pledge to never drink and drive, in return for discounted safe journeys home.These initiatives are all completely funded by the partner and add significant value to the campaign.We will continue to seek further partnerships with commercial brands who can extend the reach and impact of our campaigns.

Home Office

Emergency Services: Scotland

Lord Paddick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the emergency services in Scotland about ensuring that the new communications network being procured under the emergency services mobile communications programme meets the coverage requirements of rural and island communities.

Lord Bates: The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme has had on-going discussions and workshops with the emergency services, including those in Scotland, about all aspects of the new network including coverage requirements in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Emergency Services: Telecommunications

Lord Paddick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with Airwave Solutions about the transition of emergency services communications as part of the emergency services mobile communications programme.

Lord Bates: The Home Office meets senior managers from Airwave Solutions Ltd regularly to discuss the service that ASL provides. The Home Office’s plans for transition from the existing Airwave service to the future ESN service is regularly discussed at these meetings.

Employment

Baroness Suttie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role in the Director of Labour Market Enforcement, as set out in the Immigration Bill, will play in setting the operational priorities of and in allocating resources to (1) the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, (2) the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and (3) HM Revenue and Customs National Minimum Wage enforcement teams.

Lord Bates: The consultation we have recently published on tackling labour exploitation sets out the role envisaged for the Director of Labour Market Enforcement. The measures we have introduced in the Immigration Bill require the Director to set the priorities for the three enforcement bodies: the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, National Minimum Wage enforcement function of HMRC and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. These will be set out in an annual strategic plan, subject to the approval of the Secretaries of State at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Home Office. This will set out the clear priorities for tackling serious exploitation and the role of the agencies in delivering them.

Employment

Baroness Suttie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to introduce labour-market wide licensing and enforcement in order to support commitments made in the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Lord Bates: Following a commitment made in section 55 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 the Government has now launched a consultation on tackling exploitation in the labour market. This consultation is seeking views on proposals to appoint a new Director of Labour Market Enforcement and create additional powers for the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to take enforcement action against labour exploitation across the labour market. The consultation proposes a power to vary the sectors subject to licensing following an evidence-based analysis by the new Director.

Slavery

Baroness Suttie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with business on how labour inspection and enforcement could support implementation of section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, relating to transparency in the supply chains of commercial organisations.

Lord Bates: Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 focuses on encouraging businesses to take action to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains. The state seeks to prevent this type of abuse through labour inspection and enforcement. We want these two areas of activity to complement each other to prevent labour exploitation in the UK. We have recently launched a consultation on the Government’s approach to tackling exploitation in the labour market. We will use the outcomes of this consultation to ensure that our final proposals complement section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act as effectively as possible.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

El Salvador: Miscarriage

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of El Salvador concerning women who miscarry and find themselves imprisoned.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We remain concerned by reports that women in El Salvador have been imprisoned under anti-abortion laws after suffering a miscarriage. Officials have raised concerns about the restrictive and sometimes punitive approach to sexual and reproductive healthcare at both a bilateral and multilateral level with the Salvadoran government. During El Salvador’s most recent Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in October 2014, the UK encouraged El Salvador to review its strict anti-abortion laws and urged the Salvadoran government to improve the treatment of women who have had abortions or suffered miscarriages.

Mexico: Torture

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Mexico following the publication in December 2014 of the report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We remain concerned by reports of the use of torture in Mexico. Ministers have raised human rights with their Mexican counterparts on several occasions, including at the highest level during the President’s State Visit in March 2015. Officials at our Embassy in Mexico City also regularly raise our concerns in meetings with the Mexican government. In support of this ongoing dialogue, this year, the UK is working with the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute to train judges to deal with torture and enforced disappearance cases.

King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support, financial or otherwise, they have provided to the King Adbdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Vienna.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government has not provided support, financial or otherwise, to the King Adbdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Vienna.

North Korea: Capital Punishment

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to raise the case of any of the public executions in North Korea between 2010 and 2014 detailed in the latest report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in that country.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We remain strongly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances.The UK, working with the EU and Japan, has ensured that annual UN resolutions consistently call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to end its use of the death penalty. We also use our diplomatic relations to raise concerns directly with North Korean officials.British diplomats raised specific concerns with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pyongyang following the execution of Jang Song Thaek in December 2013.In October, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), met the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid, to discuss a coordinated approach to addressing human rights concerns across the globe, including the DPRK.

North Korea: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom Embassy in Pyongyang and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are utilising their resources to gather evidence that can be used in any possible future International Criminal Court trials of Kim Jong-un or other senior officials of North Korea; and, if so, how.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Our Embassy in Pyongyang produces diplomatic reporting and analysis to inform policy on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). This includes human rights. However, neither our Embassy nor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are trained nor tasked to gather evidence. Information gathering on reported human rights violations within the DPRK is now being undertaken by the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul which opened in June.

North Korea: Television Channels

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the publication of the latest report by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, what assessment they have made of how many television channels in North Korea may be accessed by the North Korean population.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are aware of three television channels which operate within the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: Korean Central Television (KCTV) which broadcasts news, sport, dramas and films; Mansudae which focuses on culture; and Ryongnamsan which covers education. KCTV broadcasts nationwide while Mansudae and Ryongnamsan broadcast in Pyongyang only. We also understand there are reports that some North Korean citizens, including those living in Pyongyang, are able to access foreign television services. However, we have been unable to verify if these reports are accurate.

India: Radicalism

Lord Ahmed: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of India about the number of attacks on minorities by extremist groups in that country, in particular black ink attacks carried out by Shiv Sena.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are aware of reports of attacks by Hindu extremists on minority groups in India. The UK raises human rights matters with India, including attacks on minority groups, both bilaterally and through the EU-India human rights dialogue. As part of an EU delegation, our High Commission in New Delhi met the Indian National Commission for Minorities in early October to discuss a range of current issues. Our High Commission also maintains regular contact with civil society organisations and senior faith leaders working on religious freedom across India.

Phyoe Phyoe Aung

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made on behalf of Phyoe Phyoe Aung who is currently detained in Burma.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have raised with the Burmese authorities our concerns at the violence which occurred during the student protests at Letpadan Monastery in March, when Phyoe Phyoe Aung and others were arrested. We have called for the Government of Burma to investigate the incident and for all remaining student demonstrators to be released from prison and charges to be dropped. Our Embassy in Rangoon is closely monitoring the cases of the 56 who have been charged, 48 of whom remain in detention, and have attended the most recent trial hearing in Thuyawaddy on 13 October.

Burma: Religious Freedom

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they offer to youth-led civil society initiatives countering hate speech and promoting religious tolerance in Burma.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We remain deeply concerned about the rise in Burma of hate speech and religious intolerance. We have raised this with the Burmese authorities and will continue to do so, both publicly and in private. We have supported inter-faith dialogue in Burma in recent years through a number of projects to help build relationships and understanding. These have included projects to develop relationships between Burmese youth and different religious communities, and to forge exchanges between activists on religious freedom in Burma and Indonesia.

Central African Republic: Armed Conflict

Baroness Berridge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the Central African Republic should be included in the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Work in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been an important part of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative in recognition of the large role that sexual violence has played in the conflict in CAR which has included the sexual abuse of women and children, sexual slavery and rape. This work has, to date, been primarily carried out through our work with the African Union (AU). Since the launch of the initiative, the UK has provided £1.3 million to support the AU’s Gender Peace and Security Programme. This includes the deployment of sexual violence experts that were deployed to the CAR in 2014. These experts provided support to victims in the districts of Paoua, Kaga-Bandoro and Bambar. This Programme also supported the AU’s Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, Madame Bineta Diop. We are working with the AU to build on this deployment and increase AU capacity to carry out similar deployments in the future.

Refugees: Middle East and North Africa

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what practical support they have offered to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro as transit and recipient states of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: On September 23, the Prime Minister, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), pledged £3.1 million of aid to Western Balkans countries affected by the migration crisis, to cover both humanitarian and border management assistance. The funds form part of a wider UK pledge of nearly £115 million, most of which is being put towards lifesaving aid in Syria and its neighbouring countries. The funds will go through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to support projects in transit countries most affected, chiefly Serbia and Macedonia, and to support the UN agency’s regional office in Sarajevo. The £3.1 million will also support activities of the International Organisation of Migration in both Western Balkans transit countries, to further strengthen the response of host governments to the migration crisis. In addition, on 13 October, the UK despatched blankets, sleeping bags, and roll mats to Serbia for up to 11,000 vulnerable people as winter approaches.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the success of the Dayton Peace accords, and of the current political and security situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Dayton Peace Agreement ended a brutal war and remains the basis for the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), its constitution and our engagement. We are disappointed that twenty years on BiH has not made greater progress on its Euro-Atlantic path and we remain concerned about the political and security situation on the ground. Last year, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and his German counterpart launched an initiative (now endorsed by the EU) to inject momentum into BiH’s EU accession path and to prioritise reforms that will build prosperity and security for all. We continue to press the BiH governments to implement those reforms and to refrain from divisive, nationalist politicking that undermines progress.

Middle East Quartet

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Middle East Quartet Representative on the prospects for peace between Israel and Palestine; what the identified successes and failures are; and what was the cost to the public purse of supporting the office of the Representative in each of the last eight financial years.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government supports the aims and objectives of the Quartet, which has an important role in the Middle East Peace Process through its mandate to mobilise international assistance to the Palestinians and develop plans to promote Palestinian economic development.Since its inception in 2007, the Office of the Quartet Representative (OQR) has been funded by donations from Quartet members, including the European Commission, EU Member States and the US. Donations are pooled in a trust fund which is managed and administered by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).In November 2007 the then Secretary for State for International Development approved a one-off payment of £400,000 from the UK to UNDP to help with the costs of setting up the OQR. Other countries also contributed to the set up costs: Norway gave $1 million; the European Commission $2 million; and the US provided IT equipment.The UK does not currently provide financial support to cover the costs of the OQR. The Department for International Development has seconded staff to the OQR since 2007. Their costs are as follows 2007: £62,850; 2008: £165,313; 2009: £204,830; 2010: £214,440; 2011: £247,213; 2012: £183,462; 2013: £266,088; 2014: £115,738; and 2015: £26,875. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also seconded two full-time members of staff to the OQR from 2007 until 2013. We do not hold a record of the costs of these secondments.

Middle East Quartet

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans there are for the appointment of a new Middle East Quartet Representative; and what the timeline is for any such appointment.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: There are no current plans to appoint a new Middle East Quartet Representative. The Office of the Quartet Representative has been renamed the Office of the Quartet. It is now being led by a Head of Mission, supported by a Deputy Head of Mission. The Quartet Principals (EU, US, UN and Russia) are responsible for taking decisions about the structure of the Quartet, including its staffing.

Human Rights

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the promotion of human rights is part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office mission statement, and what are their top five priorities in that area.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Annual Report and Accounts set out the FCO’s purpose for 2014–15. This listed eight separate commitments, two of which mentioned promoting human rights explicitly:- Strengthen the Commonwealth as a focus for promoting democratic values, human rights, climate resilient development, conflict prevention and trade.- Use soft power as a tool of UK foreign policy; promote British values and respect for human rights; build capacity to tackle terrorism in line with UK security requirements; and contribute to the welfare of developing countries and their citizens.In addition, human rights are an integral part of the FCO’s work, linked with many aspects of our national interest including the stability and prosperity of our international partners. We set out in the 2014 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report the actions we have taken to mainstream human rights across the FCO network, including ramping up our internal communications and training.We are currently reconfiguring our work on human rights around three pillars to reflect the Government’s manifesto commitments, play to our strengths, boost our impact, and increase our ability to respond to international developments. These pillars are:i) Democratic values and the rule of law;ii) The rules-based international system and,iii) Human rights for a stable world

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about the level of collective punishment being imposed on Palestinians by both Jewish settlers and the Israeli Defence Forces, and in particular about the use of live fire in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We regularly raise with the Government of Israel the implementation of its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention as the occupying power, including the point that any use of force must be proportionate. Our Ambassador to Tel Aviv most recently raised our concerns on 26 October about the use of force, including live fire, with the Israeli Commander of Government Activities in the Territories, General Mordechai. Israel, like all countries, has a legitimate right to self-defence, and the right to defend its citizens from attack. But in doing so it is vital that all actions are in line with International Humanitarian Law.

Israel: West Bank

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the bulldozing of agricultural land owned by Palestinian farmers near the city of Nablus in the West Bank to open new roads to connect Jewish outposts and settlements south of the city.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: While we have not made any representations on this specific issue, our Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised the issue of demolitions with the Israeli Ministry of Defence Director of Political-Military Affairs on 21 October. The British Government has repeatedly condemned Israeli settlement activity. The UK position is clear:- settlements are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and take us further away from a two state solution.

Saudi Arabia: UN Human Rights Council

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to oppose the UN decision to put Saudi Arabia in charge of a human rights panel, and, if so, what action they will take.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government has no locus to oppose the appointment of the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia as Chair of the UN Consultative Group. Saudi Arabia was nominated by the Asian Group. The Council is made up of five ambassadors, serving in their personal capacity, from each of the five regional groups in the UN. The Ambassador has served on the Consultative Group since 1 January 2015. It is standard procedure for the chairmanship of the Group to rotate during the course of the year.

Burma: Politics and Government

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been their response to the report by Amnesty International in June that the government of Burma has created a climate of fear by pursuing policies of surveillance, harassment and intimidation.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are increasingly concerned by limits to freedom of expression and assembly in Burma, and a tightening of the democratic space as the November elections approach. These issues have been well documented by Amnesty International and others. We have expressed our concerns to the Burmese authorities a number of times, including during the visit to Burma in July by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), and most recently, when Mr Swire met the Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin in New York in September.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran about the use of capital punishment, in particular regarding the case of Fatemeh Salbehi, and what assessment they have made of the report by Amnesty International that over 700 executions have occurred in Iran this year.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. There has been no real improvement in the human rights situation in Iran, and in some cases, such as use of the death penalty, the situation appears to have worsened. We have made our position clear to Iran both publicly and privately, and continue to urge Iran to abide by its international commitments to ensure all Iranians enjoy the rights and freedoms they are entitled to.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of (1) Israelis, and (2) Palestinians, killed and wounded in sectarian violence in the last year; and whether they are making representations to the parties concerned.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government has not made any estimates of the number of people who have been killed and wounded.As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), said in a press statement on 9 October, “We condemn all acts of violence, including attacks by Palestinians and by Israeli settlers. We urge all sides to take immediate steps to de-escalate the tensions and avoid actions that threaten to exacerbate the situation”. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs website, from 1 January 2014 to 19 October 2015 there were 2373 Palestinian fatalities and 23,442 injured. In that same period of time there were 98 Israeli fatalities.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether (1) medical personnel, (2) ambulance crews, and (3) journalists, have been unlawfully attacked in the last year in Israel and Palestine, and how many of each group have been injured in that period.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: While we have not made an assessment specifically on this matter, we are clear that both medical staff and journalists should have the protection that allows them to do their jobs in safety. Freedom of the media is an important human rights principle. We are aware of several concerning incidents involving journalists and ambulance crews in the West Bank and Gaza over the past year. We regularly raise our concerns with both the Palestinian Authority and Israeli government, and have urged all sides to de-escalate the current tensions.

Shaker Aamer

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Shaker Aamer has yet been released from detention at Guantanamo Bay to rejoin his family in England; if not, why not; and what representations they are making to the government of the United States on his behalf.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We can confirm that Shaker Aamer was released from Guantanamo Bay and returned to the UK on 30 October.It has been a longstanding British Government policy to secure Mr Aamer’s return to the UK. We welcome his release and continue to support President Obama’s commitment to closing the detention facility at Guantanamo.

Syria: Peace Negotiations

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the proposals for peace in Syria made by former President Jimmy Carter in the International New York Times on 27 October.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Proposals for achieving peace in Syria will need to be agreed by the key international players and, importantly, the Syrian people. The UK is working closely with international partners to bring about a negotiated end to the crisis in Syria, including through Ministerial participation in high-level international meetings. The ultimate solution to the crisis must be a political transition, which brings legitimate and inclusive governance to Syria. We are flexible about how the process of transition would work but are clear that Assad cannot be part of the future of Syria.

UK Membership of EU

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, if their objectives of European Union re-negotiation are not met, they plan to recommend leaving that organisation.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), is confident that with good will and understanding, he can and will succeed in negotiating reform in the EU and Britain’s relationship within it. As he has said, if he succeeds he will campaign to keep the UK in a reformed EU but if he does not achieve these changes he rules nothing out.

Libya: Compensation

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had, or are having, with the government of Libya about compensation for people killed or wounded by explosives and guns supplied to the IRA by that country, in a manner similar to compensation for the victims of the Lockerbie bombing, and when those discussions will be completed.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The last significant discussion with the Libyan government on the resolution of legacy issues was in June 2014, when the then National Security Adviser, Sir Kim Darroch, visited Libya.The subsequent violence and political instability in Libya, which resulted in the closure of our Embassy in Tripoli in August 2014, effectively stalled further discussions with the authorities. Under the current circumstances we need to be realistic about what the Libyan authorities can deliver, but we remain determined to make progress. Once stability returns, and our Embassy re-opens, we will again encourage the Libyan authorities to engage with UK victims and their legal representatives seeking redress, including those seeking compensation.

Northern Ireland Office

IRA

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any agreement with the provisional IRA in recent years, and if so, what was covered by that agreement.

Lord Dunlop: The Government has not made any agreement with the provisional IRA, or any other paramilitary organisation.

Biometrics: Databases

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) whether United Kingdom law complies with the judgment concerning the retention of fingerprints and DNA samples in S and Marper v United Kingdom [2008] ECHR 1581; and (2) whether the proposed retention of biometric data in Northern Ireland in the form of a "snapshot" to be used by the expected Historical Investigation Unit will be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and that judgment.

Lord Dunlop: Following the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of S v Marper v United Kingdom [2008] ECHR 1581, the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 was passed to introduce a new legislative framework for the retention and destruction of biometric data (including fingerprints and DNA samples) taken under the Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) legislation in England and Wales and for material taken under UK wide terrorism powers. The Government believes that the new framework strikes the right balance between the rights of individuals under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the public interest in the prevention, investigation and detection of crime. In Northern Ireland, broadly similar provisions have been taken forward by the devolved administration in the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2013. The relevant PACE (Northern Ireland) provisions, when brought into force, will ensure that the appropriate balance is also struck in respect of Northern Ireland.The Historical Investigations Unit, when established, must have access to historic evidence to support the investigation of past crimes, including relevant fingerprint and DNA evidence. The Government is satisfied that the proposal for the Historical Investigations Unit to access relevant biometric data is proportionate and, pursuant to the provisions of the Northern Ireland (Stormont House Agreement) Bill, sufficient restrictions on the retention of, access to and use of the data will be put in place to ensure compatibility with Article 8 of the European Convention.

Department for International Development

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of freedom of access to Yemen by the UNHCR and non-governmental organisations looking after the most vulnerable in that country.

Baroness Verma: Intense fighting on the ground is making it increasingly hard for UNHCR and other non-governmental organisations to reach those in need within Yemen. This is compounded by restrictions on imports of commercial and humanitarian supplies into the country, including fuel. This in turn is hampering the distribution of humanitarian supplies within country, including essential food and medicines.Of the 2.3 million internally displaced people in Yemen, to date UNHCR has provided emergency relief items to 147,386 of them since the end of March.The UK continues to call on all parties to facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered access to all people in need in Yemen. The UK is one of the largest donors to the crisis and has announced £75m to respond to the crisis in Yemen. UK aid is providing vital medical supplies, water, food and emergency shelter, working with trusted and impartial actors who have a strong track record in delivering assistance in difficult and dangerous places. We also support a UN-led process on access negotiations and the establishment of the Access Working Group where partners report cases of obstruction and accessible routes.

Israel: Gaza

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following the September UN OCHA Bulletin report that Israel has added additional restrictions on the entry of wood into Gaza, and that those restrictions have impeded the Catholic Relief Services' installation of prefabricated wooden housing units to serve as transitional shelter solutions for the winter.

Baroness Verma: DFID is aware of the issue of restrictions on the import of wood into Gaza and senior DFID officials have raised it with the Government of Israel at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting in September this year. We support calls to ease the number of items on the dual use list whilst recognising Israel’s legitimate security concerns about the use of materials for the manufacture of weapons. We urge Israel to make the process of listing materials as dual use more transparent and in line with internationally recognised dual use items. In the interim, DFID funding to the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism is helping to ensure that construction materials reach Gaza.

Israel: West Bank

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following the September UN OCHA Bulletin report that Israel had demolished a two-storey building in Area A of the West Bank during a search and arrest operation in Jenin refugee camp and damaged an adjacent home, displacing four people.

Baroness Verma: The UK raises concerns about demolitions and displacement with the Government of Israel on a regular basis and at the highest levels. We assess that demolition of Palestinian structures in the Occupied Palestinian Territories by Israel is harmful to the peace process. As of 14 September, in 2015, 393 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished in Area C and a further 56 in East Jerusalem. Demolitions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and in all but the most limited circumstances are contrary to international humanitarian law.

South Sudan: Overseas Aid

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to support the people of South Sudan who face starvation.

Baroness Verma: In 2014, the UK was one of the largest donors to the UN Humanitarian appeal which helped to avert famine and ensure that 3.5 million South Sudanese were reached with life-saving assistance. The 2015 appeal is ongoing, and 3.1 million people have been reached so far this year.Overall, the UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the humanitarian response in South Sudan, having contributed £172 million since the start of the conflict in December 2013 and a further £88.9 million for South Sudanese refugees in the region. Limited access for humanitarian workers in the Greater Upper Nile states, particularly in Unity State, has increased the risk of famine; as noted in the recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The UK consistently lobbies for all parties to allow unrestricted humanitarian access.In addition, through DFID, the UK continues to deliver food security programmes in South Sudan, prioritising support to the most vulnerable people.

Syria: Refugees

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been their response to the study by the UNHCR showing that 70 per cent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon are living below the poverty line; and of their response to the World Food Programme no longer being able to provide food vouchers to 229,000 refugees in Jordan due to funding cuts.

Baroness Verma: The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the Syria crisis response having allocated over £1.1 billion since 2012.As of September 23rd, DFID has allocated £304 million of funding to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon since the start of the Syria crisis. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) study highlights, refugees in Lebanon are increasingly exhausting their savings and falling into debt. In response, in 2015/16 the UK allocated £94 million to meet the immediate needs of refugees and to support host communities in Lebanon, of which £25 million will support UNHCR directly.As of September 23rd DFID has allocated £193m of funding to Jordan since the start of the Syria crises and we continue to support both the international humanitarian response and the Government of Jordan to meet the needs of Syrian refugees and Jordanians, which have been exacerbated by the protracted nature of the refugee situation.In August 2015, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced cuts to food support in Jordan from September onwards. DFID has provided additional support in response to the difficulties refugees have in accessing daily essentials, including food. This financial year DFID has allocated £19m to a UNHCR programme in Jordan which provides a monthly cash grant to very vulnerable refugees. Cash gives the recipients the choice to buy food, or spend it on other household priorities such as healthcare or rent. WFP reinstated food support in October to 229,000 Syrian refugees living in the urban community. This group of refugees will receive the equivalent of £9.20 per person per month, those more vulnerable (211,000 refugees) will now receive the equivalent of £13.80 per person per month, and those in the camps will receive the equivalent of £18.40. WFP will be able to maintain this level of assistance until January 2016.

Burma: Rohingya

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussion they have had with the government of Burma to ensure that Rohingya are given full humanitarian access to camps, and the protection which enables them to return home or be given safe voluntary resettlement.

Baroness Verma: British Government Ministers take every appropriate opportunity to raise the plight of the Rohingya community with their Burmese counterparts. Most recently, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), did so with the Burmese Foreign Minister in New York on 29 September. During his visit to Burma in July, Mr Swire travelled to Rakhine State to see the situation there at first hand, and raised the situation of the Rohingya at a senior level both in Rakhine and with Burmese central government ministers. The UK’s Deputy Head of Mission, accompanied by DFID officials, visited northern Rakhine State on 5-8 October and discussed freedom of movement for those in internally displaced person camps with Rakhine State Chief Minister, U Mya Aung.DFID is one of the largest bilateral humanitarian donors in Rakhine, and has provided over £18 million since 2012.

Department for Education

Regional Schools Commissioners: Finance

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the costs set initially for the regional schools commissioners, and what are the budgeted running costs.

Lord Nash: The first financial year set up and running costs of the Regional Schools Commissioners (RSC) and their offices were approximately £4.5 million. This includes the election of head teacher boards and their expenses. This was not new additional funding, but was met from within the Department for Education’s existing budget envelope.The budgeted running costs for 2015-16 are approximately £6 million. These costs have been provided from the department’s allocated funding, following a robust business planning exercise.

Schools: Performance Standards

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many schools were placed in special measures in (1) 2013–14, and (2) 2014–15.

Lord Nash: This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. I have asked him to write to you and a copy of his reply will be placed in the libraries of the House of Commons.

Ministry of Justice

Criminal Proceedings: Fees and Charges

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the mandatory criminal courts charge on the number of guilty pleas.

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of individuals who are innocent of crimes but have pleaded guilty in order to reduce their liability for the mandatory criminal courts charge since April 2015.

Lord Faulks: Section 55 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 places a duty on the Lord Chancellor to carry out a review of the Criminal Courts Charge three years after implementation of the charge. No such assessment has been made to date.

Criminal Proceedings: Fees and Charges

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the total value of criminal courts charges (1) issued by the courts, and (2) collected to date; and what estimate they have made of the total cost of enforcement to date.

Lord Faulks: Information on the enforcement of financial impositions is contained within an annex to Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly statistical bulletin published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice.Data relating to the criminal courts charge for the period April to September 2015 will be published on 17 December 2015. This will separately identify the monetary values of the criminal courts charge imposed and collected since 13 April 2015.The cost of enforcing the criminal courts charge cannot be separated from the total cost of enforcing all types of court ordered financial impositions. Enforcement action is taken against the total amount an offender owes and offenders are often ordered to pay more than one type of financial imposition.

Courts: Fines

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total value of fines (1) issued by the courts, and (2) collected, in 2014–15.

Lord Faulks: The total value of fines issued and collected in 2014/15 was:Fines imposed 2014/15Value of Fines imposed in 2014/15 collected in same year of impositionTotal fines collected in 2014/15 (regardless of date of imposition)£250,740,040£84,688,512£161,930,070The ‘total fines collected’ figure includes the £84.7m collected in the same year of imposition. These figures relate to fines only and not any other financial imposition types.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Small Businesses: Internet

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect small companies in the light of reports that Google’s recent update to its search algorithm reduced visitor numbers to websites owned by small United Kingdom firms.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Through the Government-funded Digital Business Academy, small businesses are provided with a free online learning tool with modules on digital marketing and search optimisation. The Government welcomes the Go On UK scheme, which works in with partnership with large businesses to help small businesses to do more online. This includes guidance on building a website and search optimisation. We encourage all businesses to keep pace with any change in the market, including search optimisation.

Ministry of Defence

Army Reserve: Croydon

Earl Attlee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 22 October (HL2256), why 150 Recovery Company, part of 103 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, relocated from the Army Reserve Centre at Redhill to the one at Croydon, in the light of the fact that the related infrastructure developments had not progressed past the initial assessment phase.

Earl Howe: The relocation of 150 Company from Redhill to Croydon was part of the redesign of the Army Reserve as part of Future Reserves 2020 and Army 2020. In this case the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers were realigned to better integrate the Reserve component with their Regular Army partners. It also sought to maximise the potential for future recruitment, which in some cases necessitated the relocation of smaller units and sub-units.While it was recognised that the infrastructure of the Croydon Army Reserve Centre required some improvement, it was deemed no worse than that at Redhill Army Reserve Centre. Therefore, an early move was agreed to realise the wider benefit of an increased recruiting footprint, thus ensuring that 103 Battalion REME could grow in strength and maintain the critical mass necessary for effective training and therefore operational capability

Department for Communities and Local Government

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many housing association tenants they estimate will be able to afford to buy their own home under right to buy in the first year of the scheme; and how many they expect will buy their home in each year to 2020.

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research they have undertaken or commissioned on the take-up of the extension of the right to buy to housing association tenants in all parliamentary constituencies and housing authority areas in England.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer I gave her on 28 October, PQ HL2737

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they had with council leaders about their proposals to fund the extension of right to buy to housing association tenants through the sale of council assets.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Ministers and senior officials have engaged widely with local authorities and other key stakeholders regarding the planned sale of high value vacant council housing, and this engagement is continuing.

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations

Lord Adebowale: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 12 October (HL Deb, cols 36–40) on the right to buy, whether (1) there will be a timeframe within which housing associations are expected to build extra homes, and (2) there will be a minimum guarantee of rented accommodation built to support individuals suffering from ongoing health issues.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The National Housing Federation voluntary agreement states that housing associations and the Government share a mutual objective to ensure that replacement homes are delivered as quickly as possible.Whilst aiming for replacement within two years, the default position is that housing associations will have flexibility to replace homes within a three year period. The Housing and Planning Bill will also seek to introduce clauses that will speed up the planning system so that new homes can be delivered quicker.Under the agreement, housing associations may exercise discretion not to sell properties provided through supported housing as defined by Part V of the Housing Act 1985.

Housing Benefit

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect on the cost of housing benefit to the public purse of requiring local authorities to sell their housing stock.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Everyone needs to live within their means. People on benefits should have to make the same decisions and choices about where they can afford to live as people who are not on benefits, and should not expect to be housed in properties that most working households are unable to afford.The Housing and Planning Bill will require local authorities to make a payment to Government based on the estimated value of their high value housing that is expected to become vacant.This policy is about councils making best use of their housing stock – selling vacant high value housing to fund the building of new homes which reflect housing need and increase overall housing supply, and to increase home ownership, as set out in the Government’s manifesto.At the heart of this legislation is the building of more homes. A portion of receipts generated from sales of vacant high value local authority housing will be used to build homes that better meet housing need and increase overall housing supply. In addition to this, housing associations will retain the sales receipt from each home sold through Right to Buy to enable them to re-invest in the delivery of new homes.

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Leasehold Advisory Service about future demands on its services for free legal advice from leaseholders, landlords, professional advisers, managers and others as a result of expanding the right-to-buy scheme to Housing Association tenants.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We are working collaboratively with the sector in implementing the Right to Buy extension; Ministers and senior officials continue to engage with partners.

Urban Areas: Awards

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 21 October (HL2528), why it was possible to vote daily in the Great British High Street of the Year competition for up to 30 days, and from multiple email addresses; who decided that voting should be allowed to take place in that way; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that decision on the outcome of the competition.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Great British High Street Competition was an initiative launched by the Future High Street Forum, a group bringing together retailers and sector experts to lead work to support high streets. The Great British High Street Competition, now in its second year, is overseen by a sub-group of the Forum.The results of the Great British High Street Competition will be decided on by the combination of two scoring mechanisms. The first element will be based on scoring from a visit from our independent panel of judges which includes expert senior representatives from Boots, Costa, Google and the Post Office.The second part of the scoring is based on the outcome of a public vote which allows people to vote every day but from a single email address. The decision was based on advice from analysts and social media experts, which included Facebook, LinkedIn and Yahoo, and was introduced in order to allow the finalists to build local campaigns which generate interest across the course of the campaign and not just on one day. It was also designed to allow towns with varying populations to compete. Ministers had no role in this decision.I would like to take this opportunity to wish the team in Colne and their competitors, every luck. We received 230 entries of an excellent standard so to reach the final is a huge achievement. The competition is shining a light on all the wonderful, hard work going on around the country and, once the competition is over, we look forward to continuing to work with all of the finalists to share and publicise their great work.

Electric Vehicles

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to ensure that, when planning permissions are granted for new residential developments that do not provide on-site parking spaces, those developments provide adequate power supplies and public charging points to enable residents to use electric cars.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government supports the use of ultra-low emission or plug-in vehicles and would encourage local authorities, wherever possible, to make provision for them. The provision of power supplies and public charging points in connection with the granting of planning permission is a matter for local planning authorities to consider.

HM Treasury

Taxation: Treaties

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale: To ask Her Majesty’s Government with which developing countries they are currently negotiating taxation treaties, and what is the timetable for each negotiation.

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what terms they seek in taxation treaties with developing countries, and how they agree those terms before opening negotiations.

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultation they undertake prior to, or during, negotiations with a developing country on a taxation treaty.

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale: To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent they take into account development goals when negotiating taxation treaties with developing countries, and what role the Department for International Development has in those negotiations.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have responsibility for negotiating the UK’s double taxation agreements, subject to oversight by HM Treasury. HMRC run an annual consultation exercise to establish the negotiating priorities for the coming year, which are then approved by ministers. As part of this exercise they consider representations made by UK businesses, NGOs and government departments, including the Department for International Development, as well as the UK’s diplomatic missions throughout the world. When the programme is published it also invites representations about our forward programme.HMRC’s programme for 2015/16 covers the following countries: Colombia, Fiji*, Ghana, Guernsey, India, Isle of Man, Israel, Jersey, Kazakhstan*, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho*, Malawi*, Portugal*, Russia, Thailand*, Turkmenistan*, UAE*, US, Uruguay*.The UK’s starting point in negotiations is based closely on the OECD Model Double Taxation Convention, which is also the basis for most other countries’ tax treaties. Some developing countries prefer to follow the UN Model, the provisions of which differ in some areas to the OECD Model, and the UK has agreed to adopt these provisions in its treaties. The object of the negotiations is to produce a text acceptable to both countries, balancing their preferences. There is no timetable for how long negotiations should take. It is quite normal for negotiations to take two to three rounds to complete.Consultation during the negotiations would be rare.*Negotiations largely completed.

Councillors: Legal Costs

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the personal taxation requirements when a local authority pays the legal costs of an industrial tribunal or court case for an individual councillor.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The payment of a councillor’s legal costs by a local authority are subject to the same tax rules as the payment of such fees by any employer for an employee or office-holder. The tax treatment that applies will depend on the particular facts of the case.

Schools: Uniforms

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what circumstances value added tax can be applied to school uniforms.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: Children’s clothing, including a school uniform, is VAT zero-rated if it is designed for young children and is of a size that would fit the average child aged under 14 years. Larger sizes of clothing are standard rated irrespective of the age of the wearer.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Renewable Energy

Lord Steel of Aikwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was their annual expenditure on financial grants, in the last year for which figures are available, for the installation of (1) wind turbines, (2) solar panels, and (3) hydro power generators; and what is their estimate of the total output of installations of each type.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The majority of renewable electricity generation is supported by two government schemes; the Renewables Obligation (RO) and (for smaller schemes) the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT).Based on the number of Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) awarded and the buy-out price for each ROC, the table below shows the amount of support provided by the RO for the years 2013/14 and 2014/15:Payments made under the Renewables Obligation£ (million)2013/142014/15Wind turbines1,791.91,866.5Solar photovoltaics37.4136.6Hydro power generators107.9110.5This information is available from the Ofgem website.The number of ROCs issued can be found in table 6.3 of the following link (copy attached):https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewablesPayments made under the FiT scheme are not available by technology, but the majority of deployment is solar photovoltaic. In 2013/14, the total payments for the scheme were £691 million [1]. This is available from the Feed-in-Tariff annual report:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2014/12/feed-in_tariff_fit_annual_report_2013_2014.pdfAnnual generation statistics, irrespective of support mechanism are published in The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES). The table below summarises the generation figures for wind, hydro, and solar photovoltaic on a calendar year basis:Generation (GWh)20132014Wind turbines28,42132,016Solar photovoltaics1,9894,050Hydro power generators4,7025,885Copies of DUKES are available from the House Libraries.[1] The annual report for 2014/15 will be published in December 2015.



Number of ROCs issued
(Excel SpreadSheet, 1023.5 KB)




FITs Annual Report 2013-14
(PDF Document, 1.54 MB)

Cabinet Office

Police and Crime Commissioners: Election Addresses

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to make available free postal delivery to every elector of every candidate's election communication in the forthcoming Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Lord Bridges of Headley: As set out in legislation, each candidate at an ordinary Police and Crime Commissioner election is entitled to have an election address published on a website dedicated to promoting the candidates for these polls, and an elector can request a printed version of the election addresses for the police area where they are entitled to vote to be sent to them.

Department of Health

Accident and Emergency Departments

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many patients waited at least 12 hours in Accident and Emergency in 2014–5, and in each year since 2005.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The information is not collected in the format requested. Information on the number of patients waiting more than 12 hours from decision to admit to admission in accident and emergency (A&E) departments in 2011-12 to 2014-15 is shown in the table below. The first full year for which data is available is 2011-12 as data was not collected prior to August 2010.YearNumber of patients spending more than 12 hours from decision to admit to admission in A&E departments2011-121232012-131702013-142402014-151,239Source: Annual A&E Activity and Emergency Admissions statistics, NHS and independent sector organisations in England